The National Weather Service has issued a notice that a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 6 PM EST today to 6 PM EST Saturday. A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow… sleet…and ice are expected or occurring. Heavy wet snow and/or ice accumulations may result in toppled trees and/or power lines.

Representatives of City of Concord infrastructure and public safety departments met earlier today to finalize preparations for this major winter storm. Transportation crews will be deployed once the storm hits to work on major street corridors. The Concord Electric Department will have multiple crews on call in case icing starts to impact electric service.

All park facilities, recreation centers and community buildings will remain closed Saturday, January 30th due to the upcoming winter storm event.

For individuals who need assistance, such as stranded motorists or individuals with medical needs relying on electricity, Fire Stations #3, #8, and #9 will open for temporary emergency shelters until the Red Cross establishes a long-term emergency shelter.

"Obviously we are unsure what type of frozen precipitation we will be dealing with, but our departments are preparing to address a variety of conditions" said City Manager Brian Hiatt. "Of course, the best advice is to stay at home if at all possible and, if you have to travel, use extreme caution"

The Transportation Department completed brine application operations on Thursday on assigned bare pavement routes around the city in response to the anticipated storm.

City Transportation Street Division personnel will work a pre-planned snow and ice abatement schedule with adjustments being made as conditions warrant. If in the event a major freezing rain event develops, work crews will transition into a debris clearing mode once acceptable roadway conditions are established. Motorists are asked to use caution and provide adequate distance around service vehicles in areas where these operations are occurring.

During a winter storm, travel is expected to become very hazardous or impossible and the best place you can be is at home. If you absolutely have to go out, the North Carolina Highway Patrol and Concord Police Department urge the following precautions:

Reduce your speed. Driving at the regular speed limit will reduce your ability to control the car if you begin to slide.
Leave plenty of room between you and other vehicles.
Bridges and overpasses accumulate ice first. Approach them with extreme caution and do not apply your brakes while on the bridge.
If you do begin to slide, take your foot off the gas and turn the steering wheel IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SLIDE. Do not apply the brakes, as that will cause further loss of control of the car.
Traffic signal problems should be reported to the Concord Customer Care Center at (704) 920-5555. Please treat all intersections with non-working signals as a All-Way STOP condition.

Residents can track local street conditions by accessing the interactive street map located on the City of Concord website front page at www.concordnc.gov . Click on the traffic light icon in the social media box on the right side on the main page directly under the Events Calendar.

*****

For conditions on area NCDOT routes, go to http://apps.dot.state.nc.us/tims

The City of Concord will begin refurbishing older sewer mains within the City beginning Tuesday, January 25, 2010.

The project is expected to take eight weeks and will involve a total of 10,889 feet of pipe in various locations.

The refurbishing project involves relining old pipes with a polyurethane resin material. This process allows the pipes to be upgraded without digging up roadways and adjacent properties. This method is cheaper than replacing the old mains and causes minimum disturbance to traffic and nearby homeowners/ businesses.

Citizens who will be affected by the project will be provided information at least 24 hours prior to the start of the project through the distribution of door hangars and/or the Connect CTY calling system. Residents will be asked to limit their water use during the project.

The upcoming date and area is scheduled: January 25, 2010 -  Eastover Drive, Hillcrest Drive, Parkview Drive, Tournament Drive, Boger Court, Ring Street .
 
If you need more information bout the project, call Aaron Cook with the Wastewater Resources at 704-920-5353.

Bunny Run 5K & Fun Run
Saturday, April 3, 2010

Les Myers Park
338 Lawndale Avenue
Concord, NC 28025

Fun Run begins at 8:00 a.m.
5K begins at 8:30 a.m.
Starts and ends at Les Myers Park in Concord.  Course starts in the lower parking lot area, continues on the Harold McEachern Greenway, turns around on the Downtown Connector Segment and back to Les Myers Park. 

Modified Course. USAT&F Certified Course
 New stroller division.
Registration and awards presentation will be held in Paul's Shelter at Les Myers Park.

REGISTRATION FEE:
5K Bunny Run: $12.00 entry fee until March
26th. $15.00 registration after March 26th.
Online registration will close on Thursday March
26th. T-Shirts guaranteed to the first 125 registered
participants.

1 Mile Fun Run:
Warm up before the 5K Bunny Run or just run for fun! All ages are invited to run at no cost on this one mile run through the McEachern Greenway. There is no fee for the Fun Run, however, if you desire a T-shirt, it may be purchased for $8.00 by using the entry form. Quantities and sizes may be limited, so please order early. Registration is required for the 1 mile fun run at no cost.

For more information, please contact Ryan Jones at 704-920-5619 or the
Concord Parks & Recreation
Department Office at 704-920-5600
Email: recreation@ci.concord.

Youth Baseball and Softball
Baseball/Softball/Coach Pitch

Baseball/Softball/Coach Pitch Registration dates are January 4-February 12, 2010.
Season runs March to June.

GOALS OF THE PROGRAM:
♦ To build the child’s self esteem
♦ To teach the skills of the game.
♦ To build good relations among peers
(also between parents & children)
♦ To create a fun atmosphere

REMEMBER:
♦ Fun is first!
♦ Your child has the opportunity to play in each
game
♦ Instruction before competition
♦ No league or individual standings
♦ No trophies for “Winners Only.”

PRACTICE AND GAME SCHEDULE:
♦ Practice times established by the coaches
according to their schedule and availability of
facilities.

REGISTRATION FEES:
$30.00 registration fee for City of Concord Residents
and $50.00 registration fee for all other participants.

*NOTE: Fee for Instructional Clinics/Leagues for
5-6 years olds is $30.00 regardless of residency.

Please make all checks payable to
CITY OF CONCORD.
For further information, please call
704-920-5617 or 704-920-5618.

2009-2010 Leaf Collection Dates
Loose Leaf Collection officially ends the last  week of January 2010

Remaining Schedule is listed below

If your garbage collection day is Friday, your leaves will be collected: January 25-29

Second Chance Program Again Available
The Second Chance Program is for anyone who does not want to bag their leaves once looseleaf season has ended in your neighborhood. For a fee of $75, the City will schedule a special loose-leaf collection during the weeks of February 1-5 or 8-12, allowing you to forgo the required  bagging for this brief period once leaf season ends and avoid the Code Enforcement penalties that may result if leaves are not bagged. Call 704-920-5555 to schedule your Second Chance collection.

City of Concord Upcoming Meetings
Public hearings Held in the Municipal Building, 26 Union Street, S.

January Meetings
1/26/2010 at 6:00 p.m. Board of Adjustment Meeting

February Meetings
2/11/2010 at 6:00 p.m. City Council Meeting
2/16/2010 at 6:00 p.m. Planning and Zoning Meeting
2/18/2010 at 7:00 p.m. Historic Preservation Commission Meeting
2/18 & 2/19 Council Planning Session
2/23/2010 at 6:00 p.m. Board of Adjustment Meeting

Concord Youth Council Wraps it Up! Fall Semester 2009
 
48 teens from high schools within Cabarrus County just finished their requirements for the fall semester of Concord Youth Council and boy did they do it with a bang!   Each member is required to obtain a minimum of 125 points each semester.  They receive points for attending meetings twice a month, attending committee meetings and by serving their community with projects organized through the advisors, Debbie Littlefield and Deb Clark.

Most members were well above their minimum points requirement.  But the most remarkable thing is they accumulated over countless hours serving their community.  

They collected dog food for a non-profit, cleaned the roadsides as part of Litter Sweep, built dog houses with the help of Kitty City volunteers and made decorations for their first Christmas Parade float.  They created a Halloween festival called the Pumpkin Prowl held at Hartsell Recreation Center, judged dog contests at Dogs Day Out pet festival, sold popcorn and candy at Stars in the Park after playing on the ball field with the children attending.  They also assisted with the Martin Luther King memorial dedication, Tree Lighting Ceremony and controlled traffic and timed runners for two road races.
Next semester has just as much fun planned!  We will be making blankets for Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital, collecting money to make stuffed animals at the Teddy Bear Drop, making and sending valentine’s to a nursing home, organize and participate in the Bunny Bash and help in the children’s area of the Spring Into Arts Festival.  

Interested in joining the fun?!  Applications can be found on the Youth Council web page at www.concordnc.gov Or contact Youth Council advisors Debbie Littlefield, 704-920-5615 or littlfd@concordnc.gov


2009-2010 Leaf Collection Dates
Loose Leaf Collection officially ends the last  week of January 2010
Remaining Schedule is listed below

If your garbage collection day is Wednesday, your leaves will be collected:January 11-15

If your garbage collection day is Thursday, your leaves will be collected:January 19-22

If your garbage collection day is Friday, your leaves will be collected: January 25-29

Second Chance Program Again Available
The Second Chance Program is for anyone who does not want to bag their leaves once looseleaf season has ended in your neighborhood. For a fee of $75, the City will schedule a special loose-leaf collection during the weeks of February 1-5 or 8-12, allowing you to forgo the required  bagging for this brief period once leaf season ends and avoid the Code Enforcement penalties
that may result if leaves are not bagged. Call 704-920-5555 to schedule your Second Chance collection


2010 Holiday Collection Schedule for Solid Waste
Garbage, Recycling, Building Materials and Bulky Waste Collection
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, week of  1/18/10
Normal garbage & recycling collection this week

Easter/Good Friday, week of 3/29/10
Normal garbage & recycling collection this week

Memorial Day, week of  5/31/10
Garbage & recycling will be collected on a one-day delay (Monday’s on Tuesday and Friday’s on Saturday)

Independence Day, week of 6/5/10
Normal garbage & recycling collection

Labor Day, week of 9/6/10
Garbage & recycling will be collected on a one-day delay (Monday’s on Tuesday and Friday’s on Saturday)

Thanksgiving, week of 11/22/10
Normal garbage & recycling collection Monday through
Wednesday
Thursday’s garbage & recycling will be collected on Friday & Friday’s on Saturday

Christmas Day, week of 12/30 and 12/28/2010                    
Normal Garbage and Recycling Schedule.

New Year’s Day             
Normal Garbage and Recycling Schedule.

 Please remember to place all waste items by the curb before 7am on your specified collection day.   For your
convenience, you may place items by the curb after 5pm on the evening before your collection day.
Call 704-920-5555 for more information

Yard Waste Collection
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, week of 1/18/10
Please place all yard waste by the curb before 7AM on Tuesday

Easter/Good Friday, week of  3/29/10
Please place all yard waste by the curb before 7AM on Monday

Memorial Day, week of  5/31/10
Please place all yard waste by the curb before 7AM on Tuesday

Independence Day, week of  6/5/10
Please place all yard waste by the curb before 7AM on Tuesday

Labor Day, week of 9/6/10
Please place all yard waste by the curb before 7AM on Tuesday

Thanksgiving, week of 11/22/10
Please place all yard waste by the curb on Monday

Christmas, weeks of 12/20/10 and 12/28/10 (The City observes Christmas on Friday 12/24 and Monday 12/27)
Please place all yard waste to be collected the week of 12/20 by the curb before 7AM on Monday 12/20 and yard waste to be collected the week of 12/27 by the curb before 7AM on Tuesday, 12/28

To schedule the collection of OLD APPLIANCES and BULK METAL, please call 704-920-555

City of Concord Upcoming Meeting
Public hearings Held in the Municipal Building, 26 Union Street, S.

1/14/2010 at 6:00 p.m. City Council Meeting
1/19/2010 at 6:00 p.m. Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting
1/21/2010 at 7:00 p.m. Historic Commission Meeting
1/26/2010 at 6:00 p.m. Board of Adjustment Meeting



 
 

The City of Concord Transportation Department Street Division will be applying salt brine today on designated bare pavement routes around the city to prepare for possible winter weather tomorrow.

Crews are pre-treating major routes as necessary with this special salt and water solution, which sticks to the roads and keeps ice from bonding to the pavement during the first few hours of a storm.

Motorists are asked to use caution and provide adequate distance around service vehicles in areas where these operations are occurring.